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Glenmerry’s green spaces
Glenmerry has more green space than any other Trail neighbourhood, but most of it is well hidden.
Greg Nesteroff
Jun 278 min read


The Kokanee Detective Agency and other curiosities
A roundup of unusual stories, including a long-haired mail carrier, and a couple who married in their mid-80s.
Greg Nesteroff
May 223 min read


Louis Armstrong in Nelson and Duke Ellington in Trail
If the greatest name in jazz history performed at the Civic Arena, how many people would turn up?
Greg Nesteroff
Apr 28 min read


Johnny Cash and the Rockabillies in Trail
Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Wanda Jackson all performed in Trail as part of the same show in 1957.
Greg Nesteroff
Feb 129 min read


The evolution of Trail hockey uniforms
The Trail Smoke Eaters’ famous logo has seen far more changes in the last 90 years than you think. So have their sweaters.
Greg Nesteroff
Dec 18, 202425 min read


Lost buildings: Revisiting Trail’s Rio Theatre
Another look at East Trail’s short-lived moviehouse, its proprietor, and the disasters it faced.
Greg Nesteroff
Nov 8, 202410 min read


Crown Point Hotel envelope nets $625
A rare Christmas seal inflated the price of an envelope from a Trail hotel.
Greg Nesteroff
Jul 21, 20242 min read


Then & Now: The Kootenay Hotel and the Gulch billboard
Can a billboard be considered a heritage site? There’s been one at the same location in Trail for over 80 years.
Greg Nesteroff
May 22, 20243 min read


Evel Knievel’s Kootenay connection
Before Evel Knievel was a motorcycle stuntman, he was Bob Knievel, hockey player.
Greg Nesteroff
Dec 18, 202311 min read


4 streets in Trail named Nelson
Nelson has but one street named after itself, Nelson Avenue. But Trail has had four different streets and avenues named Nelson.
Greg Nesteroff
Nov 27, 20232 min read


What West Kootenay owes to Montana
Trail and Butte share certain nomenclature. The same guy built both of their smelters. And they have other ties too.
Greg Nesteroff
Sep 1, 202310 min read


The Chad Mitchell Trio in Trail
The Chad Mitchell Trio, who counted Trail native Mike Kobluk as a member, performed in Trail on Feb. 19, 1962.
Greg Nesteroff
Jun 24, 20234 min read


Corner stores: Joffe’s Confectionery
A large building across from Butler Park in Trail is a little-known legacy of the city’s Jewish community.
Greg Nesteroff
Mar 19, 20237 min read


Then & Now: 1200 block of Bay Avenue in Trail
Another in a series of negatives I bought a few years ago showing Trail in 1953 or so.
Greg Nesteroff
Jan 8, 20233 min read


The thing under the Trail bridge
A stone and mortar structure sits beneath Trail’s Victoria Street bridge. What the heck is it?
Greg Nesteroff
Nov 21, 20221 min read


Seth Martin’s mask
Exactly when did legendary Trail Smoke Eaters goaltender start wearing a mask? And was it before or after Jacques Plante did the same thing?
Greg Nesteroff
Nov 6, 20226 min read


Trail’s Elma Hotel
Where was the Elma Hotel in Trail? And who was Elma?
Greg Nesteroff
Oct 25, 20222 min read


Pickles the driving dog and other oddities
A few curious things: a dog behind the wheel, a basketball team named the Comincos, and Yale University helps tear down buildings in Trail.
Greg Nesteroff
Oct 9, 20224 min read


East Trail vs. Trail East
Here’s something that’s not confusing at all: the area across the Columbia River from Trail used to be split into East Trail and Trail East.
Greg Nesteroff
Jun 27, 20223 min read


Back alley brick buildings
A walk down some Trail and Nelson alleys reveals surprises in brick.
Greg Nesteroff
Jul 29, 20215 min read
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